Time-measuring device



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,340

a. w. GENT was mmsunme nlwm Filed July 51 1923 a JZ Patented Sept. 22, 1925. I i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR, "JV. GENT, OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TIME- MEASURING DEVICE.

Application filed. July 31, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR 1V. GENT, a citizen of the United States of rimerica, residing at Morristown, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Measuring Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to time measuring devices. More particularly it refers to a time relay of the type adapted for use where alarm circuits are adapted to be closed for use during relatively short intervals of time, as for instance, in certain telephone or telegraph systems for operating alarm signals and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above referred to in which certain contacts forming part of an alarm circuit are controlled in an accurate and simple manner.

A feature of the invention isthe provision of a time consuming mechanism adapted to be set in motion through the energization of a motor magnet therefor, together with the provision of means for accurately resetting the time consuming mechanism and associ ated operating parts to normal position after each operation of an alarm circuit controlled thereby.

Another feature is the provision of means whereby the time consuming mechanism is returned to normal position against a positive stop through the movement of a resetting mechanism therefor.

Another feature is the provision of adjustable means movable through a movement'o'f the time consuming mechanism for varying the length of the period of time to be measured.

Another feature of th s 111VI1111011 consists in means to independently return both the signal contact operating meansand the time operating mechanisms to normal position.

Other features of invention and advalntages will appear from the following description and the claims appended hereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side assembly view of the time measuring device, Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, Fig. 3 is a partial View of the device showing the pointer or disc memberin operable relation with the worm rivets 21.

Serial No. 654,831.

and Fig. 4t is a top plan view showing the pointer and the alarm circuit controlling springs in operated position together with a circuit arrangement in which this device may be employed.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The time measuring device shown in Fig. 1 consists of a motor magnet having a core 16 extending from both ends thereof for supporting the ditl'erentparts of the operating mechanism. On the rear end portion of core 16, there is securely arranged the standard 17 having twofastening ears 18 and i9 ext-ending in opposite direction therefrom for securing the magnet on a supporting plate (not shown). A vibrating ar mature 24- is also attached to standard 17 by means of two similarly shaped ribbon springs 25 and 26 held securely thereto by means of On the free end portion 27 of armature 24 there is securely arranged an operating pawl 28 which extends through an aperture 29 in the front end portion of the core 16 in operable relation with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 31 securely arranged on a rotatable shaft 32 ournalled on the upwardly extending lugs 33 and 34: which are held securely on the front end portion of core.

16 by any suitable means. On shaft 32 there is securely arranged a worm 35, a stop wheel 36 and a gear 37 which engages with gear sector 38 pivotally arranged on the upwardly extending bracket 20 and which is adapted to return the shaft 32 and worm 35 carried thereby to its normal position against a stop 40 through the tension of a coiled spring 39-which has one end attached to sector 38 and the other end on bracket 20.

It is to be noted that the gear sector 38 has a number of teeth somewhat greater than the pinion 37 with which it meshes and is thereby capable of imparting a complete turn to the shaft 32 in opposite direction to the normal direction of movement of the ratchet wheel '31, therefore when the gear 37 is rotated through the actuation of ratchet wheel 31, the gear sector 38 is moved in a downward direction against the resistance of its retracting spring 39 until the last, tooth thereon is reached. The gear sector however, remains in engageable relation with pinion 37 during the further movement of the motor magnet 15 due to the tension of spring 39. A retaining pawl 41 arranged on a resilient auxiliary armature 42 is provided for holding the ratchet wheel 31 and the shaft 32 in each successive advanced position. Auxiliary armature 42 of resilient magnetic material is secured at one end on a base 63 and extends therefrom in parallel alignment with reference to the longitudinal axis of motor magnet 15. Auxiliary armature 42 has its free end portion bent at right angles and on it is secured a fork shaped bracket 43 of magnetic material and laying in juxtaposition to a pole piece 44 adapted to attract the auxiliary armature 42 in re sponse to the energization of motor magnet 15.

On bracket 43 there is journalled a shaft 45 which carries a disc 46 and an adjustable insulating member 47 adapted to control the movement of contact springs 48, 49, and 51 provided for controlling the alarm and the motor magnet operating circuits shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. Shaft 45 is held in normal position by means of a spring 57 which encircles the shaft 45 and has one end resting against the bracket- 43 and the other end against the disc 46. An adjustable screw 71, arranged in pole piece 44, is provided for holding the auxiliary armature 42 and the disc 46 carried thereby in adjust ment with reference to the worm 35 with which it is associated.

The 'motor magnet operating circuit generally consists of grounded battery 52, a switch 53, winding of motor magnet 15, normally closed contact springs 54 and in operable relation with an insulating stud carried by armature 24, to ground. The normally opened contact springs 48 and 49 in this operating circuit are adapted to establish a shunt around the springs 54 and 55 when the insulating member 47 is brought in operable relation with spring 51, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby holding the motor magnet 15 energized.

The alarm circuit as shown in Fig. 4 consists of grounded battery 56, alarm signal 58 (which may be in the form of a buzzer) lead 60, contact springs 50 and 51, to ground. Signal 58 is adapted to sound an alarm when its operating circuit is completed upon the closing of contact springs 50 and 51 through the operation of spring 51 when moved by the insulating member 47. It is to be noted that the shunt around springs 54 and 55 is established simultaneously with the closing of the alarm circuit due to the simultaneous operation of contact springs 48 and 51 in sulatedly connected by means of a stud 64, thereby holding motor magnet 15 energized and the alarm circuit closed as long as the motor magnet circuit remains closed at switch 53.

lVhen motor magnet 15 energizes due to the closing of switch 53, the operating armature 24 is moved to step the ratchet wheel 31. The movement of armature 24 causes the circuit to be opened through the movement of spring 55 and since the magnet is thus included in a self-interrupting circuit the armature 24 will vibrate. Auxiliary armature 42 is sin'iultaneously attracted against the pole piece 44 and the disc 46 carried thereby engages the thread of worm 35. The resistance of auxiliary armature 42, however, is made relatively light in comparison with the resistance of operating armature 24, therefore auxiliary armature 42 and the disc 46 remain in operating relation with the worm 35 while motor magnet 15 deenergizes momentarily to permit the return movement of operating armature A copper slug 61 fastened on the front end portion of core 16 is provided for retarding the deenergization of motor magnet 15 thereby increasing the time of the stepping movement of the motor magnet. During the retary movement of shaft 32 the gear sector 38 in engagement with pinions 37 is moved clear of the pinion teeth while the ratchet wheel 31 and the worm 35 continue to rotate through the movement of operating pawl 28 thereby moving the disc 46 and the insulating member 47 carried thereby in operable relation with the spring 51 which when operated closes the signal operating circuit when spring 51 contacts with its associated spring 50 and applies the shunt around the springs 54 and 55 which locks its armature in operated position.

Upon the complete deenergization of magnet 15, through the opening of its operating circuit at switch 53, auxiliary armature 42 releases and the disc 46 is restored to normal through the tension of spring 57. The worm 35 is simultaneously returned to normal by means of springs 39 acting on the sector 38 which rotates the shaft 32 until the stop wheel 36 is brought to rest against the pawl stop 40. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In a time measuring device, a motor magnet, a ratchet wheel actuated thereby, a worm secured to said wheel, a member for operatively engaging said worm, a longitudinally movable shaft for said member, means carried by said shaft for controlling the operation of said measuring device, ant means to return said member and said worm to normal.

2. In a signaling device, a motor magnet, operable contacts for controlling the movement of said magnet, a mechanism actuated by said magnetfor operating said contacts, said mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel, a worm movable with said wheel, means for operatively engaging said worm upon the energization of said magnet, means carried by the first mentioned means for operating said contacts after a predetermined moveplurality of armatures responsive to the energization of said magnet, a. time consuming element actuated by one of said armatures, a member carried by the other armature and coupled to said element upon the energization of said magnet for controlling the operation of said magnet.

a. In a time relay, a motor magnet, a time consuming mechanism actuated by said magnet, said mechanism consisting ot a worm, a member movable through the movement of said worm, adjust-able means actuated by said member for changing the duration of movement of said magnet, and means for restoring said worm to 1101 against a positive stop independently of said member.

5. In a time measuring device signaling means, operable thereby, normally disengaged contact springs in the circuit of said signaling means, a mechanism for operating said springs to render said means operative, said mechanism comprising a motor magnet, a time consuming element an armature responsive to the energization of said magnet for actuating said element, means operatively engaging said element upon the movement of the motor magnet for engaging said springs, to cause the operation of said signaling means, and separate means to restore said element and the second mentioned means to normal in a plurality of disjointed movements when said magnet deenergizes.

6. In a time measuring device, the combination of a motor magnet, a. time element actuated by said magnet a member brought in operable relation with said element when said motor magnet operates, means movable with said member for causing the operation of said magnet to stop after a predetermined lapse of time, means for adjusting the first mentioned means for increasing or decreasing said lapse of time, and means for individually restoring said element and said member to normal.

7. In a time measuring device, the combination of a motor magnet, an operating circuit t-heret'or, contact springs in said circuit operable for controlling the duration of movement of said magnet, a time consuming element actuated 'by said magnet, a member movable with said element for operatively engaging said springs, adjustable means carried by said member for varying the period of time consumed by said ele ment, and means for individually returning said member and said element to normal when said magnet deenergizes.

8. In a time measuring device, a motor magnet, contact springs in the circuit of said magnet, a time consuming mechanism comprising a worm, a member engaging said worm and movable through the movement of said worm for operating said springs, and individual resetting means for returning said worm and said member to normal posi tion against positive stops for defining the starting point of subsequent operation of said mechanism.

I witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of July A. D. 1923.

EDGAR GENT. 

